Dahlia Fold

I've been planning our first Stamp Club meeting which will be March 25th at my daughter, Heidi Douglass' home. One of the cards that has taken everyone's eye is the dahlia fold. So.....that will be one of the make and take's we learn at the club meeting.

So...in preparation, I needed a wedding card for today and I used the dahlia fold.




Stamp Set: Wedding Sentiment (retired set More Great Greetings)
Card Stock: Blue Bayou, Very Vanilla, Porcelain Prints Design Paper
Ink: Blue Bayou
Accessories: Blue Bayou Double Stitched Ribbon, Very Vanilla Half Pearl from the Pretties Kit
Technique: Dahlia Fold
Punches: 1 3/8" circle, Large oval

This is such a cool technique - I will be putting up more examples as I make them in the next few days. I want the girls to have a bunch of choices!! You can see the folding instructions here

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Technique Tuesday

We started out Technique Tuesday class tonight. They will be held the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Tonight was techniques A & B. Each class members has a 6 x 6 album with page protectors. I will be printing out directions for each technique and we will make a card and a sample for them to put in their album.

A - Acetate Smacking



Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree, Sincere Salutations
Card Stock: Glossy White, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Whisper White
Ink: Black Stazon, Stampin' Write Markers: Going Gray, Bordering Blue, Brocade Blue
Technique: Acetate Smacking
Punch: Large Oval

Directions for Acetate Smacking:

Scribble markers on acetate. Spray fine mist of water over the acetate. Place Glossy Cardstock (can also use regular cardstock) on acetate and rub. Remove cardstock and let dry. Stamp and color as desired and use for card of project.

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B = Bleaching



Stamp Sets: Embrace Life, All Holidays
Card Stock: River Rock, Basic Black, Ruby Red, Ginger Blossom Designer Paper
Ink: Basic Black, Versamark
Embellishments: Black Embossing Powder, Black Brad, River Rock Double Stitched Ribbon
Technique: Bleaching
Punches: Large and Small Oval

Directions for Bleaching:

Emboss a line art image in black (stamp in versamark and emboss with black embossing powder). Using an aquapinter dedicted to bleach, color within the embossed lines to bleach out the image; OR pour a small amount of bleach into a paper bowl and color your figure with a Q-tip. After bleach dries, your bleached out image will be evident.

My example didn't bleach well. I was really disappointed. And then I tried it with different bleach - mine was OLD!! It worked!! So the flower isn't bleached, but thought was pretty anyway. I'm going to do more bleaching - it was FUN!!

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Wild Wasabi Textured Card Stock Promotion

Stampin' Up is offering a special deal on their Wild Wasabi Textured Card Stock. Please read the special in the right hand column.

I ordered some and here's a card I made today



Stamp Set: All Scallops (SAB)
Card Stock: Wild Wasabi Textured from current promotion; Afternoon Tea Designer Paper (new in the Occasions Mini Collection) Whister White
Ink: Wild Wasabi Classic Ink
Embellishments: Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon, Diminsionals
Punches: Scallop Circle Punch

This was fun and simple - I used the flower pattern from the Afternoon Tea Designer Paper and then a small piece of another crosshatch pattern on the bottom of the card and then cut out one of the flowers with leaves and attached it with dimensionals.

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Technique Tuesday starting

Our Technique Tuesdays is starting on the 11th. Our first meeting will be at the Clinic - call me for details.

We are going to be doing 2 techniques a month and we will literally cover the alphabet from A-Z. I'm going to show you 4 that I have done up!

If you are interested in the class, the initial cost is the cost of a 6 x 6 album to hold your techniques. You will go away from each class with instructions already printed out, a sample to put in your album along with the instructions and a card we make. The albums are $19.95 plus $2.00 shipping and $5 for materials for each class. Please bring your own adhesive and paper trimmer.

Crayon Resist

This technique is so easy - yes I guarantee you will find it easy.



Stamp Set: Merci (from the Sale-A-Bration Mini catalog)
Card Stock: Tempting Turquoise, Glossy White
Ink: Black classic, Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink, Yoyo Yellow
Additional supplies: Light colored crayon, sponges

I stamped the figures in basic black on glossy white card stock. I then outlined each figure with a light colored crayon (used a green). I then sponged the tempting turquoise, pixie pink and yoyo yellow. I let that sit for a few seconds and used a kleenex tissue to wipe off the crayon. This left the stamped images outlined in white (the ink won't stick to the crayoned areas). It really pops up your images. That's why it's called "Crayon Resist"!!

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Highlighting

This technique takes a nice outlined stamp. I used the dogwood flower in the Embrace Life stamp set



Stamp Set: Embrace Life
Card Stock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Ginger Blossom Designer Paper
Ink: Basic Black (can also use Black Stazon), Groovy Guava
Embellishments: 1/4" Black Grosgrain Ribbon
Punches: Corner Rounder (for the scallops), Large and Small Oval, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle

I stamped the image with basic black ink on the whisper white cardstock. I then stamped again with the area I wanted to highlight. I cut out the highlighted area with the 1 1/4" circle punch and using an aquapainter and groovy guava ink, colored the flower petals. I then mounted that circle on the 1 3/8" basic black circle, lined it up and adhered it to the other stamped images to match up.

I finished with doing the scallop with the corner rounder and mounting that on the Ginger Blossom Designer Paper. Added the black grosgrain ribbon at the bottom and the sentiment!!

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Negative Split

This next card is definitely a WOW technique. Negative split.



Stamp Set: Bronc Buster
Card Stock: Sage Shadow; Western Sky Designer Paper, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: White and Black Craft Ink; Basic Black Ink
Embellishments: Antique Brass Brads, Clear and White Embossing Powder

Stamp sets to use are ones that have a large image that can be a center focal point. This bucking bronc works well I think. I cut out two pieces of card stock, basic black and whisper white, about the size of the actual wood block of the stamp. I first stamped on the basic black with white craft ink and then embossed with white embossing powder. Heat set it. Then used black craft ink and stamped the bronc on the white card stock and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I then took both pieces and found the midpoint, put them together and cut them in half lengthwise. Now I have 4 pieces - took the opposites and mounted them on some Western Sky Designer Paper and then on Basic black. The card itself is Sage Shadow - I added a strip of the stripe from Western Sky and added three antique brass brads. Then stamped the swirl with the star on the bottom!!

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Zigzag Made Easy

This zigzag technique is very simple. I found this technique on Barb Mullikin's blog.



Stamp Set: Prehistoric Pals
Card Stock: Taken with Teal, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Taken with Teal, Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie
Punches: 1/4" square punch

To make the small zigzag, you line up your punch on the side - measure half the square and punch out a triangle. Just continue on down the side and around each side. You can make bigger zags with bigger square punches. Here's a sample:



A nifty trick to add a little pizzaz to your card.

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I'm sorry I haven't been blogging much, but have had the yucky old stuff. We went to Las Vegas the first part of February. My husband was sick within two days and I "caught" it the day before we returned. Turned out to be bronchitis. Two weeks of that and I was finally feeling partially human and then someone kindly brought us the stomach flu. So.....finally feel half way normal again!!

Onsies Card

I just have to share this darling card I made today. Our acupuncturist is expecting in March and we are having a baby shower for her tomorrow. I just fell in love with this card.

Here's where you can find a tutorial. Click Here

So many possibilities with this simple, but appropriate card!!




Stamp Set: Nursery Necessities
Card Stock: Soft Sky Designer Paper, Whisper White, So Saffron
Ink: Soft Sky
Punches: Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, Ticket Corner

I simply cut a piece of Soft Sky Designer paper 11 x 4 1/4". I folded that in half to make a card front that is 5 1/2 x 4 1/4. I then took the 1 3/8" circle punch and punched 1/2 a circle at the top fold. Then each bottom corner I again used the 1 3/8" punch and punched out the corner (as per the instructions I clipped off the sharp edges).

To make the sleeves, I measured down 1 3/4" and in 1/2". I drew a line from the mark down to the corner and using my scissors cut out those pieces.

I then took another piece of soft sky designer paper cut a 1/2 circle on the edge of the paper and then used the scallop circle punch and punched out the 1/2 scallop. These were mounted at the legs and neck.

Then the embellishments - scallop circle in white and 1 3/8" circle with the soft sky designer paper. Then I used So Saffron and made another 1 3/8" circle. I slipped that back into the punch and cut off a football size which ended up with the moon!!

How simple, but how appropriate.

Check out the blog with the tutorial. That should make more sense.

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Sale-A-Bration

February 1st started the new Sale-A-Bration. This sale is a Stampin' Up tradition! You should have received your Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalog in the mail this week. Products in this brochure are available through March 17th and will not be available ever again - they are not added to the regular catalog, so are only available for a limited time.

Receive a free Sale-A-Bration set when you spent at least $50. There's no limit. For every $50 you spend you can select a free set from the brochure.

So now is time to stock up on things that you are out of and earn free products. If you purchase $150, you receive three free sets from the Sale-A-Bration brochure AND you qualify for a workshop and receive a free hostess set from the Spring & Summer 2008 Catalog and Idea Book AND $15 in free merchandise!! What a deal!! Just Email me! your order!!

Hostesses - if you host a workshop of at least $300, you'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration set in addition to the normal hostess benefits. And if you workshop reaches $600 you will get a second set.....and $900 or more a third set!! Just call or Email me! to set up a workshop and invite your friends for a fun and creative evening.

And....not to be outdone, if you sign up to be a Stampin' Up demonstrator during the Sale-A-Bration promotional period, you get a 20% discount on your kit. That makes it $159! PLUS you receive one free stamp set in addition to the kit valued up to $47.95 (see page 208-209 in the Spring and Summer 2008 Catalog for details). What a score!! Just call or Email me! for details!

Questions? Don't hesitate to ask!!

Here are some cards I made up from the new Sale-A-Bration Sets



Stamp Set: So Many Scallops
Card Stock: River Rock, Groovy Guava, River Rock Textured, Rose Red, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Ginger Blossom Designer Paper
Ink: Ruby Red, Cameo Coral
Embellishments: Groovy Guava Double Stitched Ribbon
Punches: Scallop Circle, Three For You Flower

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Stamp Set: So Many Scallops
Card Stock: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Bashful Blue
Embellishments: Soft Subles Buttons, Blue Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

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Stamp Set: So Many Scallops
Card Stock: Close to Cocoa, Purely Pomegranate Textured, Pretty in Pink, Berry Bliss Designer Paper, Whisper White
Ink: Purely Pomegranate
Embellishments: Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon, Soft Subtles Buttons
Punch: Ticket Corner

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Stamp Set: Birthday Whimsey
Card Stock: Sage Shadow, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, Ginger Blossom Designer Prints
Ink: Sage Shadow, Apricot Appeal Stampin' Write Marker
Embellishments: Natural Hemp Twine, Sponge Daubers to sponge around the white, Dimensionals (to raise up the balloons)
Punch: Ticket Corner Punch

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Stamp Set: Birthday Whimsey
Card Stock: Soft Sky, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Embellishments: Soft Sky Double Stitched Ribbon
Punches: Double Rectangle (for ribbon), Ticket Corner, Large and Small Oval

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Stamp Set: Lots of Thoughts
Card Stock: Purely Pomegranate, Berry Bliss, Whisper White
Ink: Purely Pomegranate
Embellishments: Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon, Ruby Red Brad, Hodge Podge Hardware Ribbon Slide
Punches: Large and Small Tag Punches

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Stamp Set: Friendship Blooms
Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose
Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip
Embellishments: Rhinestone Brad, Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Punches: Spiral, ticket Corner

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Stamp Set: Merci, Lots of Thoughts
Card Stock: River Rock, Confetti Cream, Whisper White, Ginger Blossom Designer Paper
Ink: Basic Black, Ruby Red
Embellishments: Rhinestone Brad
Punches: Ticket Corner, Large and Small Oval

With this card I paper pieced. First I stamped the flower/heart on Whisper White card stock. Then I stamped again on River Rock and the Ruby Red dotted piece from the Ginger Blossom Designer Paper. I cut out the flower from the river rock and adhered it over the flower stamped on the whisper white. I also cut out the three hearts and adhered them over the hearts on the Whisper White. That's paper piecing!!

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Our Valentine's Day Stamp-A-Stack was a big success!! I want to thank all my girls for the help - we were cramped for time at the Pizzeria and they all helped set up and "tear" down!! Thanks SO much!! You are THE BEST!!

And More Valentine's Day Cards

Here's a few more Valentine's Day cards I made. I received another order and boy am I having fun with all these new stamp sets!!



Stamp Set: Always
Card Stock: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Berry Bliss Designer Paper
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Pretty in Pink, White Craft Ink
Embellishments: White Embossing Powder, Chocolate Chip Ribbon (from the Holiday Mini)
I stamped the white craft ink on the Purely Pomegranate card stock and then embossed with the white embossing powder. Such an elegant look!

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This card I used the heart pocket template!! Love the simple, but elegant look!




Stamp Sets: Always, Tres Chic
Card Stock: Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Embellishments: Heart Pocket Template, Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Brads from the Vintage Brad collection
Punch: Double Rectangle Punch (for the ribbon)

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This next card is again using the Happy Heart Day set.



Stamp Set: Happy Heart Day
Card Stock: Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black; Water Color Pencils
Punches: Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches

I stamped the little mouse on Whisper White Card Stock and then cut him out with the 1 1/4" circle punch. That cut off the top of the heart, so I adhered it back on with snail adhesive!!

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The following are some of the cards we will be doing in our Valentine's Day Stamp-A-Stack on Saturday.



Stamp Set: Forever in my Heart, Pretty Petals
Card Stock: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, River Rock, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou
Embellishments: Blue Bayou Double Stitched Ribbon
Punches: Double Rectangle, Ticket Corner Punch

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Here's the little mouse again - I just can't resist him!!



Stamp Set: Happy Heart Day
Card Stock: Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black, Whisper White, Rose Red Designer Prints
Ink: Basic Black, Stampin' Write Markers: Pink, Black, Gray
Embellishments: Black Brads from Vintage Brads

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This set just came and boy do I ever like it!!



Stamp Set: Always
Card Stock: Groovy Guava, Bravo Burgandy, River Rock Textured, Very Vanilla, Ginger Blossom Designer Paper
Ink: Bravo Burgandy
Embellishments: Gold and Earth Elements Brads, River Rock Double Stitched Ribbon, Crafter's Tool Kit

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And the last one for tonight



Stamp Sets: Forever in my Heart, Short and Sweet
Card Stock: Rose Red, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Rose Red Designer Paper
Ink: Rose Red, Purely Pomegranate
Embellishments: Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon
Punch: Spiral Punch

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the heart within the bigger heart. Works everytime!!

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